Domestic air travelers are facing a steep rise in ticket prices ahead of the festive season, with fares on some routes surging by nearly 150 per cent. The spike, driven by high passenger demand, limited aircraft availability, and broader economic pressures, has pushed many tickets well beyond N300,000.
A market survey across airline booking platforms revealed that the sharpest increases were recorded on flights heading to the South-South and South-East, regions that typically experience heavy traffic during the Christmas holidays. Travellers say this year’s prices are unprecedented, far exceeding the usual festive-season hikes.
Before the Yuletide rush, domestic flight tickets averaged around N120,000. But current searches show dramatic increases. For example, a one-way Lagos–Asaba ticket on Air Peace has climbed from about N120,000 to over N300,000, with fares listed at N337,500 between December 24 and 29. Abuja–Asaba flights are going for N335,500 during the peak days, dropping slightly after December 29.
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Aero Contractors is offering Lagos–Asaba flights for N238,452 on December 24, while United Nigeria Airlines has pegged fares for the same route at N399,999. Flights to Enugu and Calabar have also risen sharply, with tickets ranging between N240,000 and N430,700 depending on date and airline.
Even short-haul routes, often less than an hour by air are impacted, with fares approaching half a million naira on some days. Despite insecurity on major highways, some travelers say they may be forced to consider road transport due to the high cost of flying.
Operators blame the surge on a combination of aircraft shortages, multiple taxation, and the overwhelming festive demand that strains the country’s domestic aviation sector each year.
